Type-writing machine.



R. W. UHLIG.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED kJULY 19, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Fig.

ATToRNEY.

UNITED sTETEs PATENT oEEIoE.

RICMRD W. UHLLG, 0F RUTHERFORD, NEW 4JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERVVOOD TYPEW'RITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. UHLIG,\ a citizen of the United States, residing in Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State oflw Jersey, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type. vWriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the platen to the line-space wheel of a typewritingmachine, to permit the platen to be rotated independently of the line-space wheel.l

The principal object of the invention is to provide a clutching mechanism for this purpose thatA will be simple, positive, in-

expensive, and readily applicable to existing machines.

the end of the platen axle and outside of the usual hand wheel, I operate a wedging or jamming mechanism which is contained within a drum that is carried by or forms part of the line space wheel, whereby said wheel is releasably wedged or jammed to a part fixed uponv the platen axle. Said button is movable in the direction of the platen axis. A spring tends always to jam or lock said axle to said line-space wheel; and this spring returns said button to normal position when it. is released. An extra move- .j

ment given to the `button willlock the ."jamming members in inoperative positions,

so that the platen will remain releasedifrom the line-space wheel, without attention from the operator. The line-space wheel is loosely mounted on the platen axle and is formed or provided Awith a drum, within which is a disk or head having a cam or wedge surface. A lever in the drum operates a pair of conjoint rollers to run upon said wedge surfaces in' a direction longitudinal of the platen and'wedge or jam between the same and theinner periphery of the drum.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of the platen and platen frame of an Underwood front strike writing machine embodying the features of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the clutching mechanism in platen locking or connecting position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the clutching mechanism in the released or disconnected l Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led .Tuly 19, 1909.

. clutch.

Patented June 28, 1910.

serial No. 508,374.

position. Fig. f-t is au 'end view taken about on line A-A of Fig. 2, showing the clutching mechanism in locked or connected position.l Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the several parts of the invention in disassembled positions. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view on a larger scale, to illustrate the locking or wedging action of the It is taken at about the line X of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts at their extreme releasing positions. Fig. S shows the parts in midway positions.

The usual cylindrical platen 1 'is mounted rigidly upon the platen axle 2 which is journaled in the platen frame 3. Loose upon the platen axle 2 is a toothed line space wheel 4 engaged by a spring detent 5 and operated p by a lever 22 through a slide 23 and pawl 24: By means of-a platen-releasing button at in the usual manner. This line space wheel 1s illustrated in the form of a ring or drum (S on whose periphery is formed the teeth 4 of riphery and a xture on the platen axle, so

`that looseness or play between the line space wheel and the platen axle is avoided. The part fixed upon the platen axle consists ofa lug El formed upon a disk 7, whose hub 2(31 is fixed to the platen axle as above described. Said lug 8 has a slightly inclined face 8a, upon which the conjoint rolls 13 run toward and from the head of the drum. The inclination is such that the movement of the rolls to the left at Figs. 2 and 3 or toward the head of the drum carries or forces them outwardly toward and against the inner periphery ofthe drum; and they are preferably made of cone shape, as illustrated, to give them sharp corners or edges at their extreme ends to bite the drum and the incline 82l more effectually, and to enable the rolls to serve, by reason of their conjoint construction, as an unyielding connection between the drum and the axle plate or head 7. It will be perceived that any tendency of the i springs 14, and the biting platen and line-space wheel to move relatively to one another is checked largely because of the resistance oiered by the conjoined rolls 13 to being turned end over end, and also because of the iact that any pressureendwise upon either end of the double roll or conjoined rolls tends to force the other end of the same more tightly between the converging surfaces, Fig. 4. The sharp bearing edges or corners of the rolls render them highly efficient for this purpose.

The jamming or biting rolls 13 are normally held in eiective positionby means of a pair of springs 14, secured by screws 15 to said plate 7 and bearing against a lever v12, which is forked at 12, to receive loosely the middle pivot portion 13a of the double roll or pair of conjoint rolls 13. Said lever is ulcrumed upon a pin 11, which is inserted in the lug 8, the latter being divided into two parts between which the lever 12 fits.

In the locked position, the rolls 13 ride upon.

a cylindrical portion 6a of the inner periphery ofthe drum; and divergence between said cylindrical portion and the incline 8a is so slight, as seen best at Fig. 6, that the springs 14, may be made very Weak and still resist eectually all liability ofthe roll to work loose lduring the operation of the typewriter. From the cylindrical portion 6a, the inner face of the drum is slightly beveled at 6b, to increase the clearance at the releasing' operation, so that a slight movement of the rolls may enable them to effect disconnection between the drum andthe axle plate 7. The lever 12 is utilized for the purpose of releasing the jamming rolls 13, and for this purpose is extended past the axle 2, having a perforation, through' which said axle extends; and a releasing pull rod 18 is loosely connected to said lever passing through a slot 19 in the latter and havin a head 18a catching over the edges of said s ot 19. At itsv outer end said ull rod 18 is threaded into a button or geriece 16, which is slidable' upon a stud 17. om the position at Fig. 2 to thel position at Fi 3;

said stud extending in the direction o the axle 2, and being threaded into the end of the latter. The rod 18 extends through suitable perforations in the hub 26 and in the hub of the usual line-space wheel 25, as will be'understood. When the finger-piece 16 is drawn out to the position at Fig. 3, the lever 12 is swung against the tension of the roll orrolls 13 are forced down the incline 8a and out of Contact with the inner periphery of the drum 6. Upon- 'releasing the ingerpiece said springs 14 restore the parts to the locking position -at Fig. 2.

In an extension of the lever 12, which plays ina notch'formed in a lug 9 on the platt-7'7", is formed a depression 21, Fig. 3;

andra ball 20`is forced by a spring 28 into said depression, whenever the finger-piece 16 is pulled far enough to the left to draw the lever l2 to the Fig. 3 position. A screw 29 is used to confine the spring 28. The lug 9 is formed with a perforation to receive the ball, the spring and the screw; but said perforation is constricted at its inner end to prevent the ball from escaping, as seen at Fig. 4.

It will be understood that when the fingerpiece 16 is pulled out only to the Fig. 8 position, the roll 13 is released, and that the spring 14 Will return the parts when the finger-piece 16 isreleased; but upon pulling the finger-piece 16 out still fartherv to the position shown at Figs. 3 and 7, the detent 2O will catch in the depression 21 and hold the lever against the tension of the springs 14, so that the operator may use both hands in manipulating the paper or turning the platen by means of al knob 27. Upon thereafter giving the button 16 a slight pressure toward the right, the lever will be forced out of engagement' with the detent 20, and thesprings 14 will return the parts to the normal locking positions. A disk 10 mounted upon the shaft 2 serves as a cover for thedrum 6. Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions ofthe implrovements may be used without others.

' aving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a platen and an axle, of a head on the axle, a hand-wheel on the axle, a loose line-space wheel, a clutching lever pivoted on said head to swing in a plane longitudinal of the platen axle, a button sliding on the end of the platen axle at the outer side of said hand-wheel, to move longitudinally of said axle, a connection extending from said button through said handwheel to said lever, and a lclutch device operating between said Ahead and said linespace wheel and releasable by said lever.

2. The combination with a platen and an axle, of a head on the axle, a loose linespace wheel, a clutching lever pivoted on.. said head to swing in a plane longitudinal of the platen axle, a button nounted on the end of the laten axle to move longitudinally thereoii; a connection between said button and said lever, a clutch device operating between said head and said line-s ace whee and releasable by said lever, an a s rin to render the clutching device effective; sai clutchin device inthe form of a air .of conjoine "rolls, and a bearing Isurfizice bein -provided onA saidl head along which the Y ro ls run in a direction longitudinal of the platen axle; said'bearing surface bein informed or rovidedon the line-,space whee to enable t e rolls to wedge between sai bearing surface and said inner periphery.

clined, relatively to an inner perip erf7 d 3. Thelcombination with a platen and an axle, of a head on the axle, a loose line-space wheel, a clutching lever ivoted on said head to swing in a plane ongitudinal of the platen axle, a button mounted on the end of the platen axle to move longitudinally thereof, a connection between said button and said lever, a clutch device operatingbetween said head and said line-space wheel and releasable by said lever, and a spring to render the clutching device effective; said clutching device in the form of a roll, and a bearing surface being provided on said head along 4whichthe roll runs in a direction longitudinal bf the'platen axle; said bearing surface bein inclined relatively to an inner periphery ormed or'provided on the line-space wheel, to enable the roll to wedge between said bearing surface and said inner periphery, said 4roll having sharpened outer edges to bite said bearing surface and said inner periphery.

1l. The combination with a platen and an axle, of a head on the axle, a 'loose linespace wheel, a clutching lever pivoted on said head to Swingin a planelongitudinal of the platen axle, a button mounted on the end of the laten axle to move longitudinally thereof? a connection between said button and said lever, a clutch device operatin between said head and said line-space whee and releasable'by said lever, and a spring to render the clutching device effective; said clutching device in the form of a pair of conjoined rolls, and a bearing surface being provided on said head along which the rolls run in a direction longitudinal of the platen axle; said bearing surface being inclined relatively to an inner periphery formed or provided on the line-space wheel, to enable the rolls to wedge between said bearing surface and vsaid inner periphery, said lever connected to said rolls between the ends-of the latter. L j, l

5. The combination with a platen and an axle, of a'head on the axle, a loose line-space wheel, a clutching lever pivoted on said head to swing in a plane longitudinal of the platen axle, a button mounted on the end. o'fl the platen axleto move longitudinally thereof, a

lconnection between said button and saidv lever, a clutch device operatingbet'ween said head and said line-space wheel and releasable by said lever, a' Aspring to render the clutching device effective; said clutching device in the form of a roll, and a bearing surface being provided on sai'd head along which the roll runs in a direction longitudinal of the `platen axle; said bearing sur-v face being inclined relatively to inner periphery formed or provided on the lilie-4 space wheel, toenable the roll to wedge betweensaid bearing surface and isaid inner riphery, said lever connected to said roll Etween the ends of the latter, and a yielding detent to hold said lever in'roll-releasing position.

6. The combination with a platen and an axle, of a head on the axle, a loose linespace wheel, a clutching lever-pivoted on said head to swing in a plane longitudinal of the platen axle, a buttonmounted -on thel end of the platen axle to move longitudinally thereof, a connection between said button and said lever, a clutch device operating between said head and said line-space wheel and releasable by said lever, a spring to render the clutching device effective, and a yielding detent to hold said lever in clutchreleasing position.

7. The combination with a platen, of a head connected thereto and having'a bearing surface, a. loose line-space wheel having a periphery, a pair of conjoined `clutching rolls between said periphery and said bearing, said rolls mounted to run upon said of the platen axis, and said bearing surface being relatively inclined to said periphery to enable said rolls to bite both the bearing surface and said periphery.

8. They combination with a platen, of a head connected thereto and havinga bearing surface, a loose line-space wheel having a periphery, a pair of conjoined clutching rolls between said periphery and saidbearing, said rolls mounted to run upon said bearingsurface in a direction longitudinal of the platen axis, and said 'bearingsurface being relatively inclined to said periphery to enable said yrolls to bite both the bearing surface and said periphery, and a spring to render said rolls effective.

9. The combination with a platen, of a head connected thereto and having` a bearing surface, a loose line-space wheel having a periphery, a clutching roll between said periphery andsaid bearing, said roll mounted to run upon said bearing surface in a direction longitudinal of the platen axis, and said bearing surface being relatively inclined to said periphery to enable said roll to bite bothl the bearing surface and said periphery, said roll mounted so as to engage said periphery only at the ends or corners of the roll.

-bearing surface in a direction longitudinal y 10. The combination with a-platen, of a head connected thereto and having a bearing surface, a iooseline-space wheel having a periphery, a clutching roll between said pel riphery and said bearing, said roll mounted to run upon said bearing surface in a direction longitudinal of the platen axis, and said bearing surface being relatively inclined to said periphery to enable said -roll to' bite both the bearing surface and said periphery.

and means to render said roll effective. said Y rollmounted so as to engage said periphery only at the ends or corners'of the roll, said v corners being sharpened to enable the roll to bite both said periphery and said bearmg' i n 11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and an axle therefor, of a line-space wheel having a drum Aand loosely mounted on the platen axle,- a head provided with a cam or wedge projection and fixed to the platen axle, a lever having a forked end, a double roller loosely mounted therein and disposed between the cam projection and the inner-periphery of the drum, and a spring bearing upon said lever, to force the roller into the bite of said cam and said periphery.

12. In a typewriting'machine, the combination with a platen and an axle therefor, of a line space wheel having a drum and loosely mounted on the platen axle, a head provided with a cam or wedge projection and fixed to the platen axle, a lever having a forked end, a double roller loosely mounted therein and disposed between the cam projection and the inner periphery of the drum, a spring bearing upon said lever, to force the roller into the bite of said cam and said eriphery, means for rocking the lever to re ease the line-space'wheel, including a rod engaging the lever, and a button connected to the rod and movable longitudinelly of the platen axle.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and an axle therefor, of a line-space wheel having a drum and loosely mounted on the platen axle, a head provided with two pairs of projections, a slotted lever fulcrumed near one of its extremities between one pair vof projections and guided at its other extremity between'v the other pair of projections, a yoke or fork formed at the fulcrumed end portion of the lever, a double tapered roller loosely mount-Y ed in said yoke or fork and working between the inner periphery of the drum and a bearing surface formed on one pair of said projections, a sprin bearing upon the lever and tending to hol the roller in engagement with the drum, and means for rocking'the lever to release the roller.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and an axle therefor, of a' line-space wheel having a drum andY` loosely mounted on the platen axle, a head provided with two pairs of projections, a slotted lever fulcrumed near one of its extremities-between one air of projections and guided at its ot er extremity between the other pair of projections, a

' upon the-lever and tending to yoke or fork formed at the fulcrumed end ortion of the lever, a double tapered roller oosely mounted in said yoke or fork and working between the inner periphery ofthe drum and a bearing surface formed on one pair of said projections, a bearing o thereller :rolls between in engagement with the drum, and means nation with a platen and an axle therefor, of a line space wheel .having a drum and loosely mounted on the platen axle, a head provided with two pairs of' projections, a slotted lever fulcrumed near one of its extremities between one pair of projections and guided at its other extremity between the other pair of projections, a yoke or fork formed at the fulcrumed end portion of the lever, a double tapered roller looselyr mounted in said yoke or fork and working between the inner periphery of the drum and a bearing surface formed on one pair of said projections, a spring bearing upon the lever and tending to hold the roller in engagement with the drum, means for rocking the lever to release the roller, and means for detaining the lever when rocked to free the roller, said detainingv means comprising a springpressed ball or detent mounted or seated 1n one of the guiding projections, and a depression being provided in the lever to receive the detent. y

16. The combination with a platen, of a platen axle, a loose line-space wheel, a butu ton at the end of the platen axle and mounted for movement longitudinally of theaxle,V a clutching device between thel axle and the line-space wheel, a spri tending to render the clutching device e ective, means connected to the button to release the clutching device, anda yielding detent to hold the clutching vdevice and button in released positions, said detent rendered effective by an additional movement of the button beyond the movement necessary to release the clutch, and said spring capable of-returning the but lton to normal position upon being released from said detent.

17. The combination with a platen and an axle, of ahead on the axle, a handwlieel on the axle, a loose line-space wheel, a clutching lever ivoted on said head to swing in a V`planeongitudinal of the platen axle, a buty periphery, and a conjoild y15. ln a typewriting machine, the vcolnbia bearingsurface,- a loose liue-space'whee having a ing, said rolls niounted to run xupon said vsaid rolls mounted to runupon s aid bearing bearing surface in a direction longitudinal surface in a direction longltudlnal .of the 10 of the platen axis. platen axis, and a spring to render said rolls 19. 'lhe combination with a platen, of a effective. y 5 head connected thereto and having a bearing RICHARD W. UHLIG surface, a loose line-space Wheel having a 'pe- Witnesses: l

riphery, a pair of conjoined clutching rolls y JOHN O. SEIFERT,

between said periphery and said bearing, K. FRAllrirokr.v 

